Gardeners' Corner

BBC Radio Ulster
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  • HOME & GARDEN
  • EVERY TWO WEEKS
Gardeners' Corner

The weekly gardening programme for keen gardeners, with the latest advice, news and visits to gardens large and small around the province. Presented by David Maxwell.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    How to make leafmould? Tulip time and a visit to Trinity College Botanic Gardens

    As autumn leaves continue to fall, David Maxwell visits the Botanic Gardens of Trinity College Dublin. It’s moved a few times in its history but now can be found near Dartry in the south of the city. Dr Stephen Waldren takes David on a tour and shows him the seedbank preserving endangered Irish plants. Mick McCann, who has worked as a gardener at the College for 40 years, reveals how the beauty around him inspires his poetry. Also on the programme, Polly Nicholson on her new book ‘The Tulip Garden’ and a visit to Yew Cottage where Philip Stewart is planting a brand new border and gathering copious amounts of fallen leaves to produce leafmould. Mary Doris will join David live in studio to answer questions and provide some seasonal inspiration. Contact the programme on - gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    57 min

  2. 2 NOV

    The lost gardens of Castlewellan? Blankets for bananas in Glenarm and how to do hardwood cuttings

    As the leaves continue to fall, presenter David Maxwell visits one of most important historic gardens on the island of Ireland. The arboretum and walled garden within Castlewellan Forest Park has dozens of champion trees and it’s a garden getting a facelift. Alwyn Sinnamon reveals the work going on to restore some of the gardens 18th century features, as well as the discovery of lost garden. Also on the programme, in Glenarm Castle’s walled garden Neil Porteous is preparing the bananas for winter and on up the east Antrim coast Una Quinn is part of the National Trust team which has restored and reopened Cushendun’s village green. David is joined live in studio by expert Ann Fitzsimmons. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    57 min

  3. 26 OCT

    Are chrysanthemums back in fashion? Greenhouse growing over winter and Derry Watkins’ special plants

    Are Chrysanthemums making a comeback? This week on Gardeners’ Corner with David Maxwell he chat to Neil Porteous about the new varieties taking the gardening world by storm. In Ballywalter, Anna Hudson is getting the glasshouse beds ready for some winter crops. Derry Watkins on her life with plants and why everyone should grow something unusual from seed. In studio David will be joined by Rosie Maye who will have some autumn highlights from her own garden and she’ll answer questions from listeners on Fuchsias and Aeoniums. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    57 min

  4. 19 OCT

    Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost on his new garden and autumn trees at Brook Hall

    With the leaves falling presenter David Maxwell heads to the 25 acre arboretum at Brook Hall near Derry. David Gilliland shows him some of the large collection of trees that are dazzling before their leaves drop including one which smells like toffee! Also on the programme, Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost on his life, career and his new garden in Lincolnshire. Oliver Schurmann reveals his penultimate perennial of the month and David is joined in studio by Brendan Little who will take questions from listeners and offer some seasonal advice. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    57 min

  5. 12 OCT

    Gardeners’ Corner Roadshow from Coleraine

    As part of a series of ‘BBC Comes to Town’ roadshows to mark 100 years of BBC broadcasting in Northern Ireland, Gardeners’ Corner heads to Coleraine. David Maxwell hosts the programme at the new Causeway Campus of the Northern Regional College. He’s joined by experts Claire McNally and Neil Porteous who take questions from a live audience. Also on the programme, David heads to the National Trust’s Downhill Demesne where head gardener Una Quinn is taking roses in hand with a group of local volunteers and he visits keen amateur gardener, Kenny Bacon in his suburban back garden near Ballymoney. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    56 min

  6. 5 OCT

    Sarah Raven at Perch Hill and Tom Stuart-Smith at the Serge Hill Project

    In this Gardeners’ Corner special, David Maxwell visits two gardening greats; Sarah Raven at her world famous East Sussex farmhouse, Perch Hill and designer Tom Stuart-Smith at the Serge Hill Project in Hertfordshire. At Perch Hill, David chats to Sarah about how the former medic became one of the most influential gardeners of our time and what it’s like when your home becomes part of the brand. Head gardener Josie Lewis shows him around the garden including the dazzling Dahlia patch – a flower Sarah can take much credit for bringing back into fashion. In the second part of the programme, David meets Tom Stuart-Smith at his home and workplace in Hertfordshire. The winner of 9 Chelsea Gold Medals, Tom explains how community is now at the centre of much of what he does including the unique Plant Library which was started in 2020. Tom’s wife, Sue Stuart-Smith,a prominent psychiatrist and psychotherapist, explains the health benefits of gardens to all and Millie Souter shows David some of the 1500 varieties that find a place in the collection.

    56 min

  7. 28 SEPT

    The best bedding to plant now, irresistible irises and finding Fungi

    When the right Autumn conditions arrive, Fungi pop up as if by magic and this week on Gardeners’ Corner, David Maxwell explores this fascinating world with Northern Ireland Fungus Group member Debbie Nelson. At Ballyrobert Cottage Garden, Maurice Parkinson is planting miniature Irises for a splash of colour in February next year. He’s also dividing autumn flowering cyclamen which he says are the ultimate no fuss plants for this time of year. Colin Agnew is in studio with some alternative choices for spring bedding which can be planted right now and he’ll be taking questions from listeners on prepping a new polytunnel and overwintering Dahlias. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    56 min

  8. 21 SEPT

    How to preserve your summer veg, an exotic oasis in Howth and perennial of the month

    This week David Maxwell finds out how to preserve some of this year’s harvest with HE teacher come obsessive gardener Kerry Connolly. She’s an expert at turning a glut of marrows and tomatoes into sauces and chutneys for the colder months. He also returns to Howth near Dublin to visit another exceptional garden on this Irish Sea peninsula. This time he meets mountain climber Karl Flynn who has created an exceptional exotic garden through a lifetime of weekend gardening. Oliver Shurmann reveals his favourite perennial for September and Anna Hudson joins David in studio to answer questions and provide seasonal inspiration. Contact the programme on gardenerscorner@bbc.co.uk

    55 min
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About

The weekly gardening programme for keen gardeners, with the latest advice, news and visits to gardens large and small around the province. Presented by David Maxwell.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio Ulster
  • Years Active
    2009 - 2024
  • Episodes
    621
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2024
  • Show Website
    Gardeners' Corner

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